BREAKING NEWS: Providence Issues Layoff Notices to All Teachers
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The City of Providence has issued layoff notices to every public school teacher in the district, Mayor Angel Taveras announced this evening.
The notices were issued in order to meet a state law requiring that teachers be notified of any potential changes to their employment status by March 1. In all likelihood, many, if not most, of the teachers will be rehired once the budget for the upcoming year is finalized.
In a statement, Taveras’ office said the layoff notices were issued to ensure that he has the maximum flexibility in making budget cuts:
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Spending reductions will be part of Mayor Angel Taveras’ effort to restore fiscal stability and put Providence back on firm financial footing. It is inevitable that some portion of these cuts will come from the school budget. However, the full extent of cuts to the school budget has yet to be determined. The March 1 deadline requires that teachers be notified now about any potential changes to their status, despite the fact that budget planning for next year is still ongoing.
Mayor Taveras is committed to a process wherein decisions around school funding are made in a careful and strategic manner that best serves the students and the community. Because it is too early in the process to be certain of all possible changes to the school budget, issuing dismissal notices to all teachers provides maximum flexibility moving forward,” his office stated.
In a statement, Taveras sought to ease the anxieties of teachers worried about the future of their jobs.
“As a Providence public school graduate, I understand how great teachers can change lives. I recognize that we have many teachers who, day after day, do all they can to educate and enrich the lives of our City’s students. I am sensitive to the uncertainty and anxiety that many teachers felt when they received this notice,” Taveras said. “My administration will do all it can to support our committed, hardworking teachers during this difficult time.”
Related Articles
- BREAKING NEWS: Central Falls Teachers Say It’s a Deal
- BREAKING NEWS: Gist - Central Falls Teachers, Administration Reach a Deal
- Bill Would Give Town Council Role in Teacher Contracts
- EP Teachers, School Committee Resume Talks
- East Providence Committee to Vote on Teacher Contract
